Private and social landlords are set to face a grilling from Warwickshire councillors over "horrific problems" reported to them about mould in homes. 

Warwickshire's adult social care and health overview and scrutiny committee, a panel of elected officials from county, district and borough councils, is set to ask housing associations and representatives of private landlords to answer questions on whether enough is being done.

Awaab's Law, named after toddler Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old who died due to complications related to the presence of mould in his rented home in Rochdale, compels social landlords to address all emergency hazards including damp and mould within fixed timeframes. Private landlords are set to face similar requirements through the emerging Renters' Rights Act.

Overview and scrutiny committees run the rule over the work of the council and partners that deliver public services or are involved in work that relates to them. 

They have no direct powers but can call in people from such organisations to ask questions or answer concerns. From there they pass comment and make recommendations targeted at improving services. 

Panel chair Cllr Jo Barker introduced the idea during her announcements at this week's committee meeting on the back of receiving complaints. 

"I know a lot of members, whether you are a district councillor or a county councillor, receive in their inboxes pictures of mould in houses. I know I receive a lot," she said.

"I am wondering whether we could potentially use the lever of this committee to beat housing associations, largely. We have some really horrific problems with mould and there are health issues related to that.

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"Given that I know how difficult it has been to get any housing provider interested in doing anything other than painting over it several times, I wonder whether it is something we could look into.

"I am not happy about the mould. I have a lot of asthmatics and they are all very unhappy."

Cllr Stan Carvell said that "most of the ones brought to my attention are from private landlords".

Cllr Barker: "It is not just the housing associations, you're right about the private sector.

"There are representatives of landlords as well, they have an association that I have met in the past and that might be interesting."

The suggestion was welcomed by the committee without dissent.